Uncover the hidden beauty of Pu Luong and Ninh Binh on this ultimate trekking adventure!
Are you looking for a short escape from the hustle and bustle of Hanoi? An exciting nature exploration to Pu Luong and Ninh Binh will definitely be something you don’t want to miss. Besides witnessing the wonders of nature, you can also learn about the local tribal culture and ancient Vietnamese history on this trip. Join us on this trekking adventure and discover the hidden charms of Pu Luong – Ninh Binh!
Day 1 – Hanoi / Pu Luong
Once we pick you up in Hanoi, we will head towards the Pu Luong Nature Reserve on our limousine bus. The journey usually takes around 4.5 hours but we will make several interesting stops along our way there. After driving for around 2 hours from our starting point, we will have a short break at Luong Son where you can take a breather and enjoy the countryside landscape. We will continue our journey as we pass through the picturesque Thung Khe Pass which is also one of the most beautiful mountain passes in Vietnam. While admiring the scenery, we will arrive at our next destination: the local market of the Muong ethnic minority. Feel free to shop around for local specialities or you can simply observe the lively locals at the market. Next, we will head to Pu Luong after a quick stop at Mai Chau to transfer into a van.
As we arrive in Pu Luong, we will check in to our rooms at the Pu Luong Eco Garden – The Mountain Retreat hotel and have our lunch. Once you have recharged your energy, we will embark on our first trekking trip in the afternoon. We will trek through the dirt roads along the rice terraces and sugarcane plantations as well as crossing the suspension bridges before we arrive at the remote area of Pu Luong where the ethnic villages are located. We will visit the Thai ethnic minority villages of Chieng Lau, Yen and Ba to learn more about Vietnamese local tribal culture. If you are curious about the local agricultural method, we can visit the duck farms near the giant waterwheels and learn directly from the farmers. After the strenuous trekking and village exploration, we will sit back on the bamboo raft and enjoy a relaxing cruise down the Cham River to end our first day. We will return to our hotel and you can relax before we gather for our delicious barbecue dinner. Retreat to your room at the traditional stilt house and have an early night to prepare yourself for the upcoming trekking activities!
Day 2 – Pu Luong / Hieu Waterfall / Ban Hieu
Get up early in the morning and make sure you fuel up with the hearty breakfast as we will experience the most difficult and challenging trekking routes throughout this tour today. We will board the van towards Pho Doan where we will start our trek. If your visit here is on Thursday or Sunday morning, we will drop by the local market of Pho Doan and have a taste of the rural lifestyle. On other days, we will begin our trekking adventure immediately after we arrive.
From Pho Doan, we have to hike up and down the hilly roads along the paddy fields and lush jungles for around 10 kilometres before we reach the magnificent Hieu Waterfall. As we have trek for a long distance on a challenging route, we will recharge immediately after we arrive and have our lunch by the waterfall. You are free to spend the entire afternoon on your own to enjoy the beautiful waterfall. Feel free to swim in the refreshing pool under the waterfall or feel the strong currents from the cascading water right above your head. If you want to wander around and simply marvel at the waterfall from afar, you can explore the nearby forests and villages. At 5 pm, we will head towards Ban Hieu Nature Homestay, a rustic homestay where we will spend the night. We will have dinner with the local family here and try the local rice wine while exchanging stories about local culture and traditions. Have a good night’s sleep at the traditional stilt house and experience the rural lifestyle.
Day 3 – Ban Hieu / Ninh Binh
What’s better than waking up early in the morning and enjoying a hearty breakfast with a friendly local family? This warm and homey feeling of Vietnamese hospitality is definitely something you will always treasure and remember from this trip. After we bid farewell to our hosts, we will head back to Pu Luong and begin our trekking adventure for today. We will visit the isolated village of Kho Muong which is located deep inside the forests amidst the mountain ranges. Get ready to trek for around 6 kilometres on hilly terrains along the paddy fields and cross the stream in order to reach this Black Thai ethnic minority village. Once we arrive, we can learn more about the local traditions that have been passed down since 300 years ago.
As the largest cave in Pu Luong, a visit to the nearby Doi Cave (Bat Cave) is definitely a must. We will explore the cave and admire the wonderful formations of stalactites and stalagmites. We can also witness the rich biodiversity inside the cave as we discover 5 different species of bats here. By noon, we will head back to Pu Luong and have our lunch. You are free to unwind and chill around the area before we depart for Ninh Binh at 2.30 pm. We will drive for around 3 hours and arrive at the Ninh Binh Retreat. After checking in to our accommodations, you will have free time to enjoy the surroundings before we gather for dinner.
Day 4 – Ninh Binh / Trang An / Hanoi
The itinerary for our final day is slightly different and more interesting than the previous days. After breakfast, we will set off to cycle through the limestone mountains to reach the ancient citadel of Hoa Lu. While we are at this former capital of Vietnam, we will visit two temples built in the 10th century to commemorate the Emperors of Hoa Lu and learn about Vietnamese ancient history. We will then continue our trip to the tomb of Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang who was the first emperor of unified Vietnam after the liberation from Chinese Southern Han Dynasty and regarded as a significant figure in the Vietnamese history. As the tomb is located on top of the Ma Yen Mountain, we need to trek and hike up the mountain to reach our destination.
On our way back to Ninh Binh, we will stop by a local family’s house where we will be invited to enjoy a cup of tea while interacting with the locals. By noon, we will check out of the hotel and have our lunch before we head towards Trang An in the afternoon. Known as the Ha Long Bay of the land, the picturesque limestone karsts in Trang An will definitely amaze you. We will board the boat down the river to enjoy the magnificent scenery and serene atmosphere here. At 4 pm, we will begin our journey back to Hanoi with your choice of transportation (train or bus). Our amazing trekking adventure ends as we drop you off at your hotel in the city.
Please refer to our refunds policy under Terms of Use section
Refer to the map below to see a list of pick up location(s) that are available for you to choose from. You can select your desired pick up location when you book the tour.
List of Location(s):
Pick up is also available for other location(s) under the vicinity of Hanoi. For more information, please contact Adventoro's concierge service.
Make use of Adventoro's complimentary concierge service by emailing info@adventoro.com to effortlessly plan your next adventure!
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